Improvement in knitting-machines



2 Sheetv-Sheet 1.

S. V. ESSICK. Knitting-Machines.

Patented July 8,1873.

Attorneys.

AM. PIroTa-mHasRAPHIc ca M)t(0ssaR n/3- Macias) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

S. V. ESSIGK. Knitting-Machines.

' Patentedluly 8,1873.

Inventor.

Attorneys.

AM more mam/1mm ca m6 (Os/512M219 mums.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL V. ESSICK, OF ALLIANCE, ASSIGNOR TO TlVO-THIRDS HIS RIG-HT TO GEORGE W. RAFF, OF CANTON, AND HENRY O. HEDGES, OF MANS- FIELD, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN KNlTTlNG-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 140,69 1, dated July 8, 1873 application filed November 14, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, S. V. EssIcK, of Alliance, in the county of Stark and in the State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knitting-Machines; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a knittingmachine, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my machine, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Figs. 3 to 7 are detached views of various parts of the machine.

A represents a standard, formed with a foot or bed piece, B, and an arm, 0, extending at right angles with the foot, as shown, the outer end of said arm being bent downward, and forming a foot. The upper end of the standard A is bent at right angles, forming an arm, D, which runs above and parallel with the lower arm (3. At the angle of the standard is a horizontal post, E, upon which the driving-wheel is to be placed; and upon the outer end of the arm D is formed a head, G. These parts constitute the frame of my machine, and may be all cast in one piece or otherwise, as desired; but I do not confine myself exclusively to this form of frame, as that may be made and arranged in many other ways to answer the same purpose. Through the standard A, at a suitable height, passes a shaft, a, which is also supported by a post, H, rising from the foot B. Upon this end of the shaft or is placed a fly-whee], I, and a pinion, b, which latter is to gear with the driving-wheel placed upon the end of the post E, and thus the required motion be communicated to the shaft a, and from the same to all the working parts of the machine. Upon the other end of the said shaft a, close to the side of the standard A, is secured a circular plate or wheel, J,

provided on the outer side, a suitable distance from the center, with a stud or pin, d, which projects into an angular slot, 0, in the rear end of an oscillating beam or lever, K. This beam or lever is pivoted on a shaft, f, which has its hearings in upwardly-projecting ears on a cross-bar or bridge, L, attached to the upper side of the arm 0. At the outer or front end wardly-projecting extension or foot, M, to the side of which is attached a swinging bar, N. On the front side of this swinging bar is attached the eyepointed needle h, which is constructed as shown in Fig. 7, having an offset or bend at 00. On the rear side, at the lower end of said bar, is attached a spring, 70, which is bent, as shown in Fig. 2, and extends up beyond the point of the needle. On the front side of the spring is, opposite to the upper end of the needle, is a rib, t, running lengthwise on the spring for a suitable distance. This spring is grasped by the hooked front end of an arm, 0, pivoted at its rear end to the side of the oscillating beam or lever K, and which arm is stopped by offsets on a vertical bar, 1?, attached to the arm 0 of the frame. of the machine. When the machine is in operation the -0fisets on the bar 1? stop the movement of the arm 0 before the movement of the beam K is completed in either direction; and hence the hooked end of the arm will operate on the spring is so as to move the swinging bar N back or forth, thereby throwing the point of the needle forward or backward, as the case may be. The movement of the swinging bar N is stopped by pins on m fastened in the extension or foot M. On top of the oscillating lever K, at the front end, is the tension device a and an eye, 0, through which the thread passes to the eye in the needle. On the side of said lever, at or near the front end, is also a curved bar, It, the upper end of which is beveled, as shown in Fig. 2, and which operates fora purpose that will be hereinafter described. On the shaft f in the bridge L is pivoted a shoe, p, to which is secured the feed-bar S. At the front end of this feed-bar, on theupper side, is a projection, s, and the rear end passes below the shaft a, and is curved around the rear side of the same. This curved part of the feed-bar is slotted and the extreme ends of the oscillating beam or lever K is a downbeveled on the inner sides. This feed-bar is operated by means of a lug or projection, r, on the shaft to, or on a collar attached to said shaft, and by a tongue, t, pivoted on the feedbar, the object of said tongue being to cause the bar to feed either to the right or left, as desired, by throwing said tongue to either side against pins 12 t on the feed-bar. When the machine is in operation the projection r strikes one of the beveled sides in the slot at the rear curved end of the feed-bar, turning said bar slightly on its pivot on the shoe p. The projection r then depresses the rear end of the feed-bar, causing the projection or lug s at its front end to enter in the comb which has the work, and as the projection r strikes the tongue t the feed-bar is again turned on its pivot in the opposite direction, moving the comb and work the required distance for one stitch. As the projection 4" leaves the tongue t a spring, to, arranged under the feedbar moves the front end thereof downward again, so that at the next revolution of the shaft a it can be again manipulated in the same manner. Through the head Gr of the frame passes avertical shaft, T, upon the lower end of which is firmly attached a turn-table, U, provided at each end with a pivoted lever, V, the lower end of which is forced outward by a spring, as, pressing the upper end of one of said levers into a notch on the side of the head to hold the turn-table steadily and firmly in the desired position. Lcngthwise of the turn-table and through the lower part of the same passes the comb W, consisting of a straight bar with two parallel rows of teeth, one'row on each side, the teeth at equal distances apart, and their ends beveled on their under sides, as shown in Fig. 4. The comb W is held so that it cannot move or be moved in either direction by means of two. arms 3/ y, fitting in between two of the teeth, one on each side of the comb. These arms are attached each to a shaft, 2, located above and on the oppositesides of the comb and pivoted in the turntable. The arms y 3 are further so arranged or connected by one or more springs that when pressure is exerted to remove either of them from its place in the comb the other will also move out from the comb, and as soon as the pressure is removed they will both spring into the comb again. On each side in the turntable, below the shaft 2, is pivoted a shaft or bar, a, which is provided with claws blitting over a tooth in the comb to throw off the stitch just as the needle ascends to catch it. The shaft or bar a is provided with an arm, d, bent as shown in Fig. 1, and having its lower end beveled to correspond with the bevel on the bar R of the oscillating lever K. This arm bears against an incline on a bar, f, which is pivoted at its upper end to the side of the turn-table, and has at its lower end a projecting point, i. This bar is pressed against the arm d by means of a spring, 6, as shown. On each side of the turn-table are also guards h and k to retain the stitches on the comb.

WVhen the needle is first threaded, by placing the yarn first under the tension-spring a, then drawing it through the eye or staple 0 and placing it through the eye of the needle from left to right, the feed should be caused to move the comb W from right to left for setting up the work. Then, after knitting one round, the comb may be caused to move from left to right, which operation will knit a smooth flat web.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The needle has two principal motions. The first is an up-and-down motion, which it receives by being connected with the oscillating lever. The next is a motion backward and forward. The back-and-forth motion is made in the following manner: The needle moves up while thrown in its backward position, the forward curve of the same pressing quietly against the edge of the tooth to receive the loop which is being cast off by the claws Z) by the action of the bar R upon the arm 01, the point z" acting as a guide or guard for the loop. After passin g through the said loop the needle continues to ascend until the ofiset x in the needle has passed the top of the tooth, when the needle is thrown forward to the left side of the tooth by the action-of the swinging bar N, spring 70, and bars 0 P. The needle moves upward after this about one-sixteenth of an inch, when it makes its downward movement, remaining beside the tooth, which stands in position to receive the stitch. The comb is held stationary until the stitch is deposited on it and the point of the needle gets a little below the comb, when the said comb moves one tooth in either direction, as may be desired, bringing the next tooth in position to receive the next stitch. This motion of the comb is effected by the time the needle begins to move upward again. When this needle moves up the yarn is stretched, and when it moves downward it p is thrown out from the same; and when thus thrown out it gives the tooth a chance to get between it and the needle, so that when the needle passes down it leaves the loop on the tooth. The tooth gets through between the needle and the thread by the forward motion of said needle. During the downward motion of the needle it springs sidewise a very little, it being at the side of the tooth, and as soon as the point of the needle has passed below the comb it resumes its former position, and is then thrown backward, again ready for the next upward movement.

The needle h and the comb WV without any of the other parts set up the work, and after the work is set up the claws b push off the stitch which is formed 011 the tooth, said stitch being immediately received by the needle, which, in its upward motion, passes through it. Then, by the inward and downward motion of the needle, the yarn which is carried by the said needle is left on the tooth, thus forming a new stitch. As soon as the beveled ends of the bar R and arm 02 have passed each other, the claws b are thrown back to their formerposition ready to be brought down and throw oif the next stitch. The spring k moves past and against the end of the tooth as the needle moves downward, and thus prevents the stitch curlin g or being thrown off until secured by motion of the comb as it moves toward either of the guards h or k. During the downward motion of the needle the front end of the feed-bar S is elevated, and the lug s on the same pushes the arm g on that side out of its place in the comb, which, as beforementioned, causes the other arm y to be also removed from the comb. Then just as or about the time when the needle completes its downward movement the feed-bar S moves the comb the distance of one tooth, the arms y y springing into the next spaces, and the feedbar descending ready for the next side and upward movement.

Forknitting an open web the feed is changed by means of the tongue t on the feed-bar S, thereby causing the comb to move backward and forward.

For knitting a tubular web of any desired size the following mechanism is used: On the inner side of the circular plate or wheel J a suitable distance from the center, is a stud or pin, m, which operates on the lower end of a sliding cam, Y, attached to the standard A by a set-screw passing through a slot therein. The

upper end of the sliding cam Y is attached to a lever, Z, which is pivoted on the side of the arm D, the other end of said lever coming close up to the shaft T. On this shaft is secured a double cam, A, having two projecting pins, 12, on opposite sides. To the head G is further attacheda spring, 10, to work against said pins.

When the knitting has proceeded along one side of the comb to the point where it is desired to turn and knit along the other side, the stop 8, shown at the end of the comb in Fig. 1, is placed in the comb, the points of the same dropping between its teeth, and the upper part standing above its upper surface. When this part strikes the lower end of the lever V this lever is thrown out of the notch in the head G, which allows the comb to swing around a short distance. This motion of the comb and turn-table is caused by the spring 12 pressing against the pin n,- and the next downward motion of the lever Z causes the end of .said lever to take effect upon the incline of the cam A, thus causing the comb to make one-half of a revolution until the other lever V springs into the notch in the head G, holding the turn-table and comb in this position, when the knitting is proceeded with upon the row of teeth brought into position by this operation, thus forming a tubular web of any de-' sired width, the width being governed by the position of the stops 8 upon the comb w. While knitting, the end of the lever Z works at the side of the cam.

I am aware that a hollow needle, used in combination with two metal plates, each of which is provided with a series of stitch-hooks,

be elastic or otherwise; while, with a hollow needle, the needle must necessarily be made so.

large that it will not pass through the stitch unless the stitch is very elastic, and, therefore, renders it valueless for knitting cotton.

My web is not required to pass'through any space, but hangs entirely free; and my comb can be made so narrow that the stitches which pass from one side of the comb to the other will not be any longer than those which pass from tooth to tooth, and, in consequence, leaving no gaps on the sides of a tubular web; while, with the two plates having the stitch-hooks, if there be space enough between the two rows of hooks for the web to pass down between them, there will necessarily be a large gap left at each side of the web; and, if the plates be so close together that no such gaps would be left, then it would be very difiicult, if not impossible, for the web to get down between the hooks.

In my machine the loop is thrown away out from the tooth, enabling the needle to pass through it without causing any injury to the yarn; while, with the stitch-hooks, the needle will have to pass so close beside the hook. in entering the loop which is on the hook, that it will go through the yarn and injure it.

Furthermore, it will be seen that my comb is simply a flat piece of metal, with teeth on both sides, extending straight outwardly in opposite directions, and. hence allows the stitches to be pushed to the end, so that the needle may enter them easily.

7 Having thus fully described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a knitting-machine, of a single, solid, eye-pointed needle, carrying the yarn, and operating substantially as herein described, and asingle comb, having two parallel rows ofstraight teeth, the points of which stand outward in opposite directions, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The combination, in a knitting-machine, of a single eye-pointed needle for carrying the yarn, a single comb, having two parallel rows of straight teeth, the points of which stand in opposite directions, and. a swinging head, substantially as described, or its equivalent, for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, with the needle h, the comb W, having two parallel rows of straight teeth, the points of which stand in opposite directions, and the swinging head, or its equivalent, of the movable stops 8, for the purposes herein set forth.

4. The combination, with the needle h and the comb W, having two parallel rows of straight teeth, the points of which stand in op- 4 EQQLGIPE posite directions, of the claws Z) and spring 70, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

5. The combination, with the needle h and the comb W, having two parallel rows of straight teeth, the points of which stand in opposite directions, of the tension device at, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

6. The combination, with the needle h and the comb W, having two parallel rows of straight teeth, the points of which stand in opposite directions, of the claws b, spring k, and tension device 12, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth. 

